Teaching Johnny about Islam

Seriously?!

11-7-2006 10:48 AM

Right wing nuts website, having nothing else to do except scare people.

11-7-2006 11:12 AM

tpq62

The rest of this website is amazing. So much hate.

11-7-2006 11:13 AM

Oh, thank God (pardon the pun!) it's not true!

11-7-2006 11:19 AM

I believe if you do some real research, you will find that it is true.

Yes, sadly it seems that anytime someone wants to point out what the world is *really* like, the word "hate" comes up. Instead, I choose to call it *a warning*.

Please don't call me "hate"ful; but some people remind me of the Jews I read about who chose to be ignorant of the warnings all around them during the 20s & 30s...to the ultimate demise of themselves and their families.

Oh, I forgot....Iran's President said that none of that happened.

11-7-2006 11:20 AM

http://wapurl.co.uk/?UDCBDVL

11-7-2006 11:25 AM

So we listen to Limbaugh because if we don't then we're ignoring the signs.

How about you look at the other side of the coin sometime?

11-7-2006 11:25 AM

Thanks n2sooners. I hope it's not in my lifetime, but I can see the same "instructional" education going on in America that we see in the media occurring in Gaza and other countries. S-c-a-r-y.

11-7-2006 11:54 AM

Seems the truth really brought this discussion to a screeching halt.

11-7-2006 12:03 PM

Why, n2sooneres? Because no one commented for 30 mins? Give people a chance!

If this is indeed the current trend, and not just scare tactics by the right, is certainly concerning. (I would be happy to leave religious instruction of any kind out of our educational systems completely.)

But I'm confused. Isn't it strange that such things are going on under the current administration?

11-7-2006 12:05 PM

It was a 9th circuit court decision. What I find amazing it that due to this court ruling, we can now have Islam prayers in school, but not Christian or Jewish prayers.

11-7-2006 12:06 PM

And we have a problem with Islam prayer but not a prayer itself?

11-7-2006 12:08 PM

It was a 9th circuit court decision.

You shall have to explain to me exactly what this is. Is this state level jurisdiction?

I think the issue, Arifsali, is that the clip refers to only Islamic prayer being permitted in schools and no other. That's what I find strange anyway.

11-7-2006 12:09 PM

I don't have a problem with prayer in schools, but it should be all or none and it should be voluntary not forced as it is in this case.

11-7-2006 1:06 PM

See here is a problem with this cryptic website, it doesn't give you any reference links to the original story, it takes scrolling half way down to figure out what exactly they're talking about, so how do we believe what they're saying is accurate? First off, it is impossible to believe that some school in the United States would only allow Islamic prayer to be recited by everyone (even sound absurd). My conclusion (unless someone can clarify) this site is projecting fear and nothing else.

Some how I recall we have debated this issue earlier on another clip, I could be wrong. Where is invictus and kore?

11-7-2006 1:34 PM

Didn't bother to click on the link I posted, did you?

11-7-2006 1:50 PM

Thanks, I just did, here is what I find :

She encouraged them to use Muslim names, recited prayers in class, had them memorize and recite a passage from the Quran and made them give up something for a day, such as television or candy, to simulate fasting during the month of Ramadan. The final exam asked students for a critique of elements of Muslim culture.

Seems like a school assignment and not a permanent curriculum. So where is the problem?

We have definitely discussed this before, I'll search for the clip for more enlightnement.

11-7-2006 1:57 PM

Here you go.

11-7-2006 2:03 PM

And did you miss the part where the lawyer said she is glad this is behind them so they can get back to it?

11-7-2006 2:08 PM

"I'm delighted that the Byron Union School District can put this case
finally behind it and get on with educating children and exposing them to the
world's great cultures and religions in an appropriate way,'' Lye said.

Wonderful, it doesn't get better than this. I wouldn't mind sending my kids to school where they'd teach all religion and not just one or no religion at all. Religion (or call it faith) is part of the life, you cannot separate it. Even athiests believe in something, and it wouldn't hurt them to learn (not indoctrinate) what the neighbor may be practicing. As long as you're not teaching hate behind any religion, I'm all for it.

11-7-2006 2:24 PM

enbar

we can now have Islam prayers in school, but not Christian or Jewish prayers.

Where's your evidence for this? We can certainly have Christian and Jewish "prayers" in school if they're taught in a course that is intended to introduce students to Christian and Jewish traditions. I've been following this story for some time now, since I teach comparative religions and would be sorry to be sued over a teaching technique, as these teachers (none of whom were Muslim) apparently were. As I understand it, participation in this unit was voluntary. The point was for students to see the world through Muslim eyes for a period of, I think, three weeks. This is not an unusual teaching strat...

11-7-2006 4:20 PM

One somewhat related case.

Thanks enbar for enlightnement.

11-7-2006 4:25 PM

Try getting "a course that is intended to introduce students to Christian and Jewish traditions" into the public schools.

11-7-2006 4:28 PM

If Harvard can do it, then why not anyone else?

11-7-2006 6:41 PM

There have been attempts to have the Bible taught as a work of literature in an elective high school course, but the usually forces that be (ACLU, "separation of church and state" groups, and so on) threw a fit. They don't even want the Bible in schools as an option.

11-7-2006 6:41 PM

enbar

That's simply not true. Bible as literature courses are quite common in many school districts now.

11-7-2006 11:08 PM

Not in ours. And certainly not at the elementary, jr. high, or high school level. My grandson, 7, when he mentioned "Jesus" in his class, was told that those things were not "discussed" at school.

This issue has become so "hot" that all teachers, (and most are liberal down here now) toss it. And they can because they are dealing with little children and most parents don't care what their kids are being taught.

11-7-2006 11:28 PM

enbar

jatfla, I predict that is going to change. Fortunately, there is increasing clarity on a legal level about the difference between teaching religion and teaching about religion, something my professional organization, the American Academy of Religion, has been fighting for for a long time. More school districts are reintroducing those sorts of courses which clearly fill a pressing need, and since they can show that they are teaching the history and culture of religious traditions without indoctrinating students, they are less afraid of lawsuits than they used to be.

11-10-2006 5:08 PM

lonely_planet

jatfla professional organisation seems to be the Hate Mogerers United

11-10-2006 5:08 PM

lonely_planet

jatfla's

11-10-2006 5:11 PM

there is increasing clarity on a legal level about the difference between teaching religion and teaching about religion

It would be hard to resist to this demand, and it is about time they all understand the differences and get on with the education which is what this is all about.

11-10-2006 5:27 PM

jklugman

c'mon lonely_planet, surely we can talk about this issue without calling each other "hate mongerers".

11-10-2006 5:37 PM

jklugman

(having said that, it would be fair to say that comparisons of Muslims in general to Nazis as jatfla appeared to do in the sixth comment are hateful, and I hope she did not really mean that)

11-10-2006 5:59 PM

Godfrey Daniel

surely we can talk about this issue without calling each other "hate mongerers".

Kudos, JK

I think it's quite a stretch though to imagine that a comparison of all Muslims to Nazis was made by Jaftla

Clearly what she is saying is that those who ignore clear and present danger are unwise and will suffer for it. We can see this in Muslims as well who are not properly acknowledging and addressing the danger that the extremists among them present to even to them.

11-10-2006 7:05 PM

Thank you Godfrey....that's exactly what I meant. We share a common enemy even with other Muslims who are also objects of terror and murder. When will they stand with us?

Regarding teaching religion in public schools...I don't even care , *IF* it was being done across the board and in our day of PC, if it is voluntary; parents decide up to a certain age; after that, the individual decides. Our Constitution guarantees "freedom of religion" for ALL.

11-10-2006 8:01 PM

Islam

11-10-2006 8:03 PM

I am happy that people are talking about it. It can only be beneficial.

Big thanks to the scaremongerers. Swell job .

11-10-2006 8:46 PM

Talk by american convert Hamzu Yusuf entitled "Why Islam"

http://uk.video.yahoo.com/video/play?&ei=UTF-8&gid=g_0aca266929b315f1155fbaaa15ebcd01.0aca266929b315f1155fbaaa15ebcd01&p=education&b=2&vid=0aca266929b315f1155fbaaa15ebcd01.573114&rurl=video.yahoo.com&vdone=http%3A%2F%2Fuk.video.yahoo.com%2Fvideo%2Fgroup%3Fei%3DUTF-8%26gid%3Dg_0aca266929b315f1155fbaaa15ebcd01.0aca266929b315f1155fbaaa15ebcd01%26p%3Deducation

11-22-2006 8:17 PM

JudgeRight

I know this is happening for a fact. My nephew went through the course and I discovered it by hearing it on Paul Harvey. People who dismis this out of hand are what scares me. What if I relate the stories about the hate mongering being taught to Muslims in private schools in mosques in America? What if I quote the most popular political and religious leaders of Islam saying they will rule the world by Sharia law? What if I reference the percentages and demographics of Muslims who believe them? What if I quote the Bible prophecies that predict the historical events of the last few years. I have http://judgeright.blogspot.com under the post titled, 'In Their Own Words'

11-23-2006 4:12 AM

JR I saw your weblog, if you really want to be as open and honest as possible (and i commend this attitude) then are you up for a challenge with a muslim, about islam and related isssues, including politics?

11-23-2006 8:46 AM

TheCatWhisperer

Judge: There are plenty of evangelical Christians in the united states thate belive similar things, that the only way to have a good society is by implementing and spreading Christianity and living by thier rules. It's all BS to me.

There should be no issue of having a class devoted to learning ABOUT a religion, this article that n2sooners pointed out was just that, a 3 week course ABOUT Islam, so the students could understand a little bit about Islam, etc... most of these kids already learn Christianity on a daily basis at him & at church. I'm not saying that the same class should have a 3 week course on Christianity, one on Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, etc.. Then maybe a final exam ...

11-23-2006 8:46 AM

TheCatWhisperer

(ps: him == home.. RE: "at home & at church")

11-23-2006 9:10 AM

You are very right CatWhisperer , there is no harm in learning about things. How else can one then make a good decision if he or she doesnt see all sides of a coin?

11-23-2006 9:10 AM

But you are very WRONG about the issue being BS.

11-23-2006 9:12 AM

JR the invitation is still open to you

11-23-2006 9:25 AM

TheCatWhisperer

Ali, it's my opinion, so I am not wrong

That's the great thing about opinions.. I didn't say it was fact.

Besides, the BS statement was about how certain religious leaders believe the world MUST follow their beliefs to function properly. That IS BS... In fact, many communities are very religiously diverse and function very well as they all respect each other. My home city of Halifax has very few issues with religions getting in each other face.. we have a large number of Christians, Buddhists, Muslims, atheists, etc... You almost never hear of such issues.. in fact there are a number of churches that share a single building! Even across religions! Now that is an example of how things CAN work!

11-23-2006 10:18 AM